Abstract
INTRODUCTION: Leprosy is prevalent among the indigenous Penan population located in deep interiors between river basins in the Ulu Baram, Marudi District, and Sarawak. Strategy for disease elimination is through active case detections (ACD). It is performed annually through a 5-year elimination program (2015-2019). We aim to describe the ACDs performed in that period, its results and elimination challenges in Marudi District, Sarawak. METHODS: A cross sectional study of Marudi District, Sarawak involving 5-year surveillance data (2015-2019). Source of data is from manual and electronic surveillance system kept at Marudi District Health Office. Data was analysed and reported using descriptive analysis. RESULTS: The average incidence is 3.7 per 100,000 populations with a 5-year prevalence of 18.6 per 100,000 populations. 92% were males and 8% were females. Age ranges between 17-66 years with median 47 years old. 77% of the detected cases were multibacillary type and remaining 23% were paucibacillary. Total costs of ACDs were RM226,953. Among the cost by line items, 31.5% attributed to human resource, 66.6% to vehicle/boat rentals and 2.9% to consumable items. DISCUSSION: Leprosy is still endemic in interior parts of Marudi district, Sarawak. Low education level, lack of hygiene, malnutrition and poverty are the key determinants suspected for persistence of leprosy among the Penan ethnic minority. Significant cost and resources required to perform the tedious ACD strategy for disease elimination. CONCLUSION: Holistic approach targeting suspected key determinant of leprosy among the Penan ethnic minority must be adopted together with ACD activities for disease elimination strategy.
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@proceedings{APCPH-2019-72,
title = {Leprosy and Its Elimination Challenges in Marudi District, Sarawak},
author = {Ruthashini},
year = {2019},
date = {2019-07-22},
urldate = {2019-07-22},
journal = {6th Asia-Pacific Conference on Public Health 2019 Proceedings},
issue = {6},
abstract = {INTRODUCTION: Leprosy is prevalent among the indigenous Penan population located in deep interiors between river basins in the Ulu Baram, Marudi District, and Sarawak. Strategy for disease elimination is through active case detections (ACD). It is performed annually through a 5-year elimination program (2015-2019). We aim to describe the ACDs performed in that period, its results and elimination challenges in Marudi District, Sarawak. METHODS: A cross sectional study of Marudi District, Sarawak involving 5-year surveillance data (2015-2019). Source of data is from manual and electronic surveillance system kept at Marudi District Health Office. Data was analysed and reported using descriptive analysis. RESULTS: The average incidence is 3.7 per 100,000 populations with a 5-year prevalence of 18.6 per 100,000 populations. 92% were males and 8% were females. Age ranges between 17-66 years with median 47 years old. 77% of the detected cases were multibacillary type and remaining 23% were paucibacillary. Total costs of ACDs were RM226,953. Among the cost by line items, 31.5% attributed to human resource, 66.6% to vehicle/boat rentals and 2.9% to consumable items. DISCUSSION: Leprosy is still endemic in interior parts of Marudi district, Sarawak. Low education level, lack of hygiene, malnutrition and poverty are the key determinants suspected for persistence of leprosy among the Penan ethnic minority. Significant cost and resources required to perform the tedious ACD strategy for disease elimination. CONCLUSION: Holistic approach targeting suspected key determinant of leprosy among the Penan ethnic minority must be adopted together with ACD activities for disease elimination strategy.},
note = {Type: ORAL PRESENTATION; Organisation: Marudi District Health Office, d/a Hospital Marudi, Marudi, Sarawak},
keywords = {active case detection, elimination, Leprosy, Penan},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {proceedings}
}